Respirator.



Patented Jul'y l, |902.

L. M. A. MUNTZ.

RESPIRATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 4,1902.) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE,i

LOUIS M. A. MUNTZ, OF WINONA, MINNESOTA.

RES PIRATOR.

SPEGF-ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,948, dated July 1,1902. Application filed February 4, 1902.' Seriallo. 92,539. (No model.)

To all wh/0771, it may concern:

Beitknown thatLLOUIS M.A.MUNTZ,a citizen of the United States, residingat Winona, in the county of Winona and State of Minnesota, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Respirators, ofwhich the following is aspecification. t

This invention 'relatesto apparatus which when properly fitted andsecured upon the head of any person will permit the wearer to enter andremain with perfect safety in rooms or other places wherein theA air ischarged with noxious gases or vapors orsmoke.

A The invention is particularly adapted for use by firemen and miners,but of course could be used wherever a similar device might be desired.

The object of the invention is to improve upon and provide a moreefficient construction of respirator or fire-mask than has heretoforebeen produced, and the novel construction thereof will be clearlydescribed hereinafter, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described andclaimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a mask or respiratorconstructedinmaccordance with my invention. Y:Fig..2 is a vertical longitudinalsectionalviewof the same; `and Fig. 3 isa transverse sectional view onthe line 3 '3, Fig. 2. Y f Y Similar numerals of reference are employedto indicate corresponding parts in the several views. u Y

The numeral 1 designates an inclosing hood or mask adapted tocoverthehead, face, and neck and having a contracting-string 2, of tapeVor'elastic, ,whereby the lower portion of the hood may be tightly drawnaround the neck of the wearer. The front portion of the hood is cut awayand the openin g made thereby is covered by a metallic plate 3,carryingwindows tanden, positioned adjacent to the eyes of the wearer andintermediate the windows just/referred to. The plate 3 is enlarged at 5to accommodate the nose of the person using the same. On the interiorwalls of said enlarged portion are two oppositely-disposedspring-fingers G to bear against and close the Vwill be presentlyexplained. a perforated concave-convex metal plate 16,

nostrils when fthe mask is in place, so that the person to whom it isapplied will be compelled to breathe through his mouth. Below thenose-receiving portion on the outside of the plateB, projectingtherefrom and at a point` opposite the mouth, is a filter-box 7,preferablyi rectangular in cross-section and which carries ;thefilteringmaterial, carrying-case, and valves, to be, hereinafter referred to. Y

An interior sleeve 8 is held normally within the free end of the box 7by spring retainingarms 9. This sleeve is provided on one end with ascreen of suitable mesh (designated by the reference-numeral 10) andforms/a cover for the filter-carrying casing 11, on which it is sleeved.The casing 11 is open at its outer end adjacent to the wire mesh 10, butis contracted at its rear end to form a hollow cylindrical tube 12,communicating with the inlet cylinder or passage 13, projecting from theplate Sand leading into the interior of the hood 1 through the passage14. A mouthpiece 15 of suitable materialisconnected to the i'nterior ofthe plate 3 to be engaged by the lips of the wearer to assist invdrawing the outside atmosphere into his lungs. The extreme end of thecontracted portion of the filter-material case is closed by ahiu gedValve, which will only be opened by inhalation and be held closed whenthepersonjexhales, as In the filter is parallel to a disk 17, ofwire-gauze 01r the like, said disk and plate being positioned "in therear portion of and against the rear Wall 18 of thefilter-material-carrying case to form a backing,against which ispositioned a sack 19, of filtering material, such as granulated carbonor charcoal, and between this sack and the open end of the case 11 ispositioned a sponge of ine texture, which may be saturated with Water orany other suitable liquid to purge the inhaled air.

Projecting fromone side of the tube 13 and communicating withthe outsideatmosphere at the side' ofthe box'7 is a branch pipe 20, forming anoutlet-duct, the freeendof which is normallyclosed by anoutwardly-swinging hinged valve 21, which will remain closed when thewearer inhales, but will be opened by his exhalation.

IOO

22 designates a rectangular flange on the box 7 surrounding the valve 2land engages a removable gauze cover 23, which protects said valve, butcan be released in case it is desirable to repair the same. A harness,comprising a head-strap 24 and the transverse strap 25, is connected tothe plate 3 and is designed to more securely hold and retain the partsin proper position.

It will readily be seen that a very commend able feature of thisinvention is the adaptability of the several parts to be readily removedand easily assembled, making it possible to clean the same quickly andwith practically no inconvenience, inasmuch as no extra tools arerequired.

To more securely protect the head of the wearer, a cap 26, of metal andof suitable construction, is employed, said cap being prefer!ablycup-shaped to closelytaround the larger portion of the head, butleavea space between the crown of said cap and the top of the head, sothat no inconvenience will result from the use.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1.A device of the character described coinprising a hood adapted to coverthe head of the wearer, a metallic plate forming a portion of said hoodand provided with window-openings; a hollow projection'adapted to fitthe nose; springs secured to the opposite sides of the inner surface ofsaid projection; a box projecting from said metallic plate`; valveswithin said box; a sleeve fitting within the outer end of said box andclosed by a screen;

and oppositely-disposed springs secured to the box and engaging theouter end of the sleeve.

2. A device of the character described comprising a hood, a metallicplate forming a portion of the hood and having windows, a box projectingfrom said metallic plate, a filtercasing within said box, a valvecontrolling said filter-case, a laterally-extending exhalation-passage,a valve for said passage, a sleeve extending within the outer end of thebox and fitting over the filter-casing, and means for detachablysecuring said sleeve in position.

3. A device of the character described comprising a hood, a metallicplate forming a portion of the hood and provided with windowopenings, ahollow projection adapted to t over the nose of the Wearer,springsoppositely disposed within said hollow projection, a box projecting fromthe metallic plate below the nosefprojection, a filter-case within saidbox formed with a contracted inner end, an inwardly-opening valve at theinner end of the

